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​Defense Express’ Weekly Review: the Tornado-S MLRS, a Need in 2000 Guns and the First Video of the Crotale SAM System Work in Ukraine

Ukrainian artillerymen from the 59th Artillery Brigade fire on russian occupiers from the Msta-B howitzer, March 2023 / Photo credit: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Ukrainian artillerymen from the 59th Artillery Brigade fire on russian occupiers from the Msta-B howitzer, March 2023 / Photo credit: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Digest of Defense Express on the main events of the week

What is the Tornado-S MLRS that the russians could use to terrorize front-line cities of Ukraine

The danger of the Tornado-S MLRS lies in the fact that the Ukrainian military does not have the means to shoot down the missiles for this system. Only long-range operational-tactical missile systems, including ATACMS, will be effective.

A guided artillery rocket with a cluster warhead for the Tornado-S MLRS in Pokrovsk on March 4, 2022 Defense Express
A guided artillery rocket with a cluster warhead for the Tornado-S MLRS in Pokrovsk on March 4, 2022 / open source

The success of russian electronic warfare should not be overstated

The russians are accumulating their electronic warfare (EW) systems on the frontlines in order to jam the unmanned aerial vehicles piloted by the Ukrainian army with the utmost effectiveness. That may make an impression of total russian superiority on the EW field.

Read more: Using Tanks to Shoot From a Closed Position Like Self-Propelled Guns: How Effective It Is In Combat

However, it’s an overstatement. Russian EW systems sometimes cannot do anything about a drone, in some cases, there is a shortage of them, and under certain circumstances, it is Ukrainian EW specialists who achieve significant success.

Ukraine needs 2000 artillery guns, the issue of the M198 howitzer supply

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reports that there is a need for about 2000 guns. And the Soviet systems can’t be decommissioned.

However, there are still 300-600 M198 howitzers kept in the storages in the U.S., the last ones have been put into reserve only in 2006. The starting point may be at least 100 guns that can be repaired for $60 million in one year.

The M198 howitzers in a service with Iraq Defense Express
The M198 howitzers in a service with Iraq / open source

The russians "found" a way to increase the production of missiles and BMP-3 IFVs

The Kremlin propagandists claim that the administration of the Kurgan region of the russian federation has increased the state order for higher educational institutions, where personnel will be trained for local enterprises of the russian military-industrial complex by 30%.

The production of the R-74 air-to-air missile at the Kurganpribor enterprise Defense Express
The production of the R-74 air-to-air missile at the Kurganpribor enterprise / open source

French Crotale SAM system shot down russian cruise missile (video)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared a footage from the inside of the Crotale SAM system. It is the first video of this French-provided air defense system in Ukraine.

Read more: ​Ukraine To Get 18 Mechanical Mine Clearing Vehicles